Before the year 2000, the U.S. military on Guam began to reduce its presence with the removal of the Polaris ballistic missile nuclear submarines from Apra Harbor and the departure of the Strategic Air Command nuclear alert B-52s from Andersen Air Force Base, along with the closures of the Ship Repair Facility, Naval Air Station Agana, Naval Facility at Ritidian Point, and Naval Security Group at NCTS Finegayan.

Soon selected lands began to be returned to the original landowners and Guam began to adjust to a reduced military presence.

Remilitarization

Since the turn of the century, the U.S. military has begun the remilitarization of the Mariana Islands, quite quietly at first. The following is a listing of most of the actions along the way, as captured primarily in environmental reviews:

What more coming?

Appropriately, a considerable rising concern has been expressed by the people of the Mariana Islands as to what else is being crafted by the Pentagon to (add to) this list and why was not the complete buildup plan presented to the people of the Mariana Islands for the people to decide.

Or perhaps the final plan has not been completed. Of interest is that the aircraft carrier berth and “fighter town” have seemingly disappeared. Further consider that the Marines on Guam have no ships and aircraft to transport them to trouble spots. So perhaps the Pentagon will suddenly add these to the military buildup to cover this oversight.

In reality, the Marines on Guam provide less of a defense asset to the U.S. as compared to their present location.

Now, with all too many questions being raised, such as the military representative uncertain of what pollutants will be entered into the drinking water by the firing range and the ambiguity of recreating the island’s unique limestone forest, the reasonable position taken by the Guam Legislature by adopting Resolution 228-34 should be respected.

Instead, the military just stated that the buildup will continue as if the entire defense of the United States is dependent on 5,000 Marines on Guam, which just stretches the buildup case a bit too far.

Stand down

The military buildup has revealed old scars and resentment of the Chamorros being treated as second class. The flaunting of U.S. sovereignty justifying the use of Guam just adds insult since the U.S. seized the island and has never attempted to negotiate the sovereignty issue with those who truly have the sovereignty, the Chamorros.

If the military wants to truly work with the people of the Mariana Islands, then the Department of Defense should order a stand down for one year to re-evaluate the military buildup of the Mariana Islands, provide open and objective information and, most of all, respect and listen to the people of the Mariana Islands.

Considering that the buildup started in 2001 and currently the Marines are not supposed to be here for several years, a one year halt is not unreasonable.